The National tribune., 1887-06-02

ington correspondent Of the Cincinnati Com
mercial- Gazette, was Major and finally Colonel
of the 35th Ohio, and made splendid record as
q brave ard accomplished soldier. he was
severely wounded at Chickamauga. The 35th
Ohio was part Of the division Of Gen. Jas. b.
Steedman, for whom Gen. Boynton conceived
a warm admiration. The occasion Of the un-
vailing of the Steedman monument at Toledo
prompted Gen. Boynton TO write for his paper
the following eloquent tribute TO his old Com
mander:
WASHINGTON, May %.
Every soldier who knew Gen. Steodman,
whether present or absent, will unite with
those at Toledo who are 10 do suitable honor 10
his memory. No better soldier went into the
field. No city in the land has more reason TO
be proud of the yalorous deeds which any one
OF their citizens performed under the nag.
Others rose TO higher rank, and, in the ordinary
sense achieved greater rcn0wn. But within
the limits which were given him 10 serve none
were more active, none more alert, none more
/ daring, none more successful, none more wor-
] thy of remembrance for soldiorly bearing and
soldierly deeds than he. Thousands who knew
him as a citizen and a politician, and not as
soldier, will be inclined to dismiss all this, as
the language Of euiogy used by one who
! did not know the subject OF which be
strives 10 make a hero. But every SOL
! der who served along the front with Steed-
man, or ever had opportunity TO know
! him there, viii testify that such words but
shadow forth his worth. lie had his full share
OF private faults. but this is no time TO recall
them. It is not necessary TO particularize in
order 10 disclaim sympathy with them. The
! kindly years have spread the misty vail OF dis
tance over them, and their rugged outlines
to-day look down from smooth and rounded
nights upon the spot where all has tellow-citi-
zens are proud to do honor TO his soldier record.
1t is his field life with which this occasion has
10 do.
He was essentially an actor at the front; and
! by the front is meant not merely the theater
fwar within which armies were operating, but
that line sheetcd with fire, seethng with action,
Wreathed with the smoke of battle and death
dealing; there he was at his best, and there he
asaways magnificent. His closest associations,
| therefore, were with the countless heroes OF the
fight. ltwas not with those who planned, aud
sent other men TO execute and fight the lines
| which they drew with pencil on maps OF rude
| topography and deemed themselves the organ
izers Of battles and the winners of victory, that
he had most to do. lie was numbered with
them, but in a sense which his soldiers under
stood he was not Of them. In the supreme
moment of battle he marched shoulder 10 shoul-
der with his men. There was no field where
they fought where any Of them went nearer TO
the enemy than he. With them he looked into
the bechng mouths of batteries. With them
he charged. lie carried their flags. He rode
with the front line. His style Of ordering troops
into action was TO lead aud beckOn. by that
irresistible example he laid a command upon
them from which none shrank, and which never
failed TO carry his lines TO victory. None who
ever saw him in the field will forget him. OF
commanding presence, an excellent horseman
and always finely mounted he was the picture
of an ideal soldier. The care of his men was
L. fha mil IL
tary authorities, or the region in which he was
operating, TO supply the proper wants of his COM
mand, his troops were never IN need, They were
called 10 endure no hardships which he did not
share. On the field lac asked no one TO do
more than follow his example. de had great
executive ability in all things pertaining TO
field work. lie dealt with all rebels as enemies.
Though trained in old and radical Democratic
schools none of the subtle ties of political or
constitutional argument turned him for one
moment from his thory that treason was the
supreme crime against the Nation, and that
traitors deserved only punishment. lie re-
fused to guard their property; he used their
slaves aud helped them TO escape, in short he
drove deep the plowshare Of war over all the
fields of political theories which his party had
, cultivated for a generation. lie regarded HIM
self only as "A soldier Of the Union whose duty
> il was TO strike with the blasting hand Of war
, at everything and at all things which directly
or indirectly upheld treason.
1t was worth lifetime of the ordinary emo
tions Of these quiet days 10 see him at the head
!, of his troops in action. No one ever saw him
: elsewhere when they were engaged. In ener-
I getic action and reckless daring he was the
: John Logan OF Ohio's troops. AT Perryvlle
after chatting hours within hearing or the fight
he was ordered up al sundown with his brigade
TO restore the line. lie took his forces in as il
: driven with all the powers which battle gene.
e rates. His battery was plunged at a gallon
= into the very face OF the encmys assaulting
: column, aud at the moment when il seemed Il
q be graspng victory il was broken and scattered
a by guns dOuble-shOtted with canister, whose
r flame almost reached its foremost rank. The
Y assault was abandoned, the Union lines were
q restored aud the battle gained.
4 II the one word Chickamauga could alone b,
) written on his monument, IL would tell a story
Q which richly merits perpetuation in bronze
t. Among the many heroes who swarmed on thai
# noted hill where Thomas fixed his right tha
J. September Sunday afternoon Steedman wa
J. c0nspcuously a leader With the cooperation
;t Of his immediate commander he had left al
IA isolated post some miles away, which he ha'
s. been set 10 defend, aud marched 20 the sound o
d guns whose fierce rapidity told him there wa
Y sore need Of help. Arriving Just at the momen
lf when the enemy had found and partially turne'
l. the Union right, aud was preparing TO over
l. whclm It, ne threw his lines against the poin
e into gorge 10 the right through which he wa
70 pushing TO the Union rear and stayed the tid
.e of battle. he led this magnificent assault {
ie his own command, and the old Bob McCoo
y Brigade, under NanDerveer, riding TO tn
- very summit in advance of his troops under
It terrific fire. with two regimental flags in hi
h. hand the most advanced and the most cor
T. spicuous object of the entire movement Fiftee
le hundred Of his men were dead wounde
DO when lac drew rein on the crest Of the rdg
70 Forty per cent. Of his command fell before tll
m work Of the day was done, and beyond questio
Us his work saved that right. At Nashville SO b
ne rode also into the rebel works On all thes
o. occasions he was the persOniGcatiOn of BATH
j. And yet with the nerve aud courage and rui
he ged strength which fitted him for such seen,
he and made him part Of their terrors, he was
ST. man Of kindly heart and tender emotions, love
in by his men, esteemed BY his comrades. and trI
b. TO them ALL There is no one Of them liyiI
a. but will ever be ready to honor the memory
y. his field lie. There is no one of them dcG
in more worthy Of such honor
OF More About sold Abe"